we know how frustrating it can be when your car’s air conditioner isn’t working properly when it’s hot outside. Beyond uncomfortable, it can be borderline unbearable during peak summer months. We want to help you keep your cool at all times, so we’ve outlined the most common reasons your air conditioner may stop working and what to do about it.

When you experience cool–but not cold–air, it’s usually because of low refrigerant levels.

My Air Conditioning Feels Warm

When you turn on your air conditioning, you expect one thing: cold air. If your vents aren’t blowing cold air, this most likely indicates a refrigerant leak. A vehicle’s air conditioning system uses refrigerant to cool the car. As refrigerant levels drop because of a leak, it prevents other components in your air conditioner from functioning correctly. Unfortunately, the most common way drivers notice a leak is a lack of cold air in your cabin. Unlike an oil leak that can leave a spot, refrigerant evaporates when exposed to the environment.

No Airflow from Air Conditioning

When there’s no airflow coming to the cabin, there could be several issues. It’s not as simple to diagnose, and a trained technician will need to look at the different components in your air conditioner until they find exactly what’s wrong.

To begin, your  may look for:

• A blown ventilation fuse: this is the power source for your blower motor, which functions as a fan by pushing air through your vents. A blown ventilation fuse means there’s no power going to the blower motor and airflow in the cabin.
• Damage to the blower motor: if the power source is working, your Master Mechanic will check the blower motor for damage. Blower motors can stop working from regular wear or age and will need to be repaired or replaced.
• A blocked air intake – your vehicle has two places where air enters: one on the exterior and one on the interior to recirculate air. If you have a blockage in either of these intake areas, airflow is prevented from reaching the cabin.
• Damaged belts and hoses – Your car’s air conditioning system is comprised of many hoses and belts that keep it working correctly. If any component leaks, loosens, breaks or becomes blocked, you’re likely to notice a lack of airflow.

The Air Conditioning Smells Funny

When you expect refreshing, cold air, and are met with the musty smell of mould or mildew, it’s off-putting, to say the least. As you may have guessed, that smell is due to bacteria growth in your air conditioning or vents. This is a common issue in vehicles that don’t use their air conditioning often or have it off for prolonged periods. More moisture can also build up in systems that undergo excessive use or are on the maximum setting frequently. Bacteria, mould, and fungi that produce a bad odour can form on the evaporator behind the dashboard and blow through your vents.

The Air Conditioning Makes A Weird Noise

Your air conditioning systems should be relatively quiet when you turn it on. If you hear sudden noises, it’s usually a sign that something is wrong. Odd noises can be something as simple as debris clogged or caught in the unit; it can also indicate a more significant issue that isn’t as easy to repair.

If you hear a grinding or squealing sound, it may mean a bearing is word out and needs to be replaced. If you hear a rattling sound, it may mean that the clutch for the compressor has failed. Without hearing the sound, ourselves, it’s hard to diagnose what the issue is exactly.

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